Olympic-bound travellers book charter flights
Vancouver-bound Olympic travellers have ramped up their requests for group charter flights in and out of the city during the Games next year, airline representatives confirmed Thursday.
WestJet has already booked at least two charter flights to Vancouver during the Olympics while Air Canada is dealing with a "larger number of requests than usual" for its custom VIP charter service, Jetz, which is used by major sports teams such as the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames.
Both airlines said it was too early to assess the demand for commercial flights in and out of Vancouver during the Games, but that they will respond to any market situation.
Air Canada representative Isabelle Arthur said the Games' official airline will substantially boost its Vancouver service next year.
"On peak days for travel to and from the Games, we will be increasing the number of flights and size of aircraft that we'll operate," she said.
"We will also add additional non-stop services to a number of our European gateway cities."
WestJet hasn't begun to sell its Games-time, Vancouver-bound flights but expects that will happen soon.
Air Canada customers can book Olympic flights online now, and prices appear to have risen from current levels. A Montreal-Vancouver return flight in February 2010 was available Thursday for $956 -- more than double the cost of a similar flight for this April.
WestJet spokesman Robert Palmer said Olympic charter flights seem to be viable for groups with 70 or more people.
"We're getting lots of inquiries now from large groups and companies that want to bring in staff, clients and family," he said.
The rising demand comes as the federal international trade ministry launches a new Games-related initiative to promote business in Canada. The new program -- 2010 Reasons to do Business in Canada -- lists the competitive advantages Canada offers to create a business-friendly climate.
The Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee, meanwhile, has announced a "Sustainability Star" program to spotlight Olympic partners and sponsors for their environmental, economic and social sustainability efforts.
The first nine stars went to: Olympic and Paralympic Village Whistler; the BC Hydrogen Highway; the RONA Vancouver 2010 Fabrication Shop; the Richmond Olympic Oval; BC Hydro's Green Energy Innovations; Live Smart BC, a program operated by the province of British Columbia; Teck Cominco Ltd.'s Going for Gold employee engagement strategy; Coca-Cola's carbon footprint and offset program; and Nortel/EDU's LearniT program, which helps teachers integrate technology into Canadian classrooms.
http://www.vancouversun.com/travel/Olympic+bound+travellers+book+charter+flights/1434844/story.html
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